Illuminated ash receptacle



Jan. 27, 1959 G. E. THOMPSON 2,871,341

ILLUMINATED ASH RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 2. 1954 GEORGE E. THOMPSON INVENTOR BYW ATTORNEY United States Patent Oll'ice 2,871,341 Patented Jan. 27, 1959 ILLUMINATED ASH RECEPTACLE George E. Thompson, Bell, Calif.

Application August 2, 1954, Serial No. 447,011

3 Claims. (Cl. 240-2) My invention relates to devices for illuminating ash receptacles as used in automobiles to render them easily seen and hence readily locatable at night so that a user can deposit cigar and cigarette ashes and butts thereinto completely rather than partly or not at all as occurs frequently due to the difficulty of precisely locating the receptacle when not illuminated.

Heretofore, such illuminating devices have been incorporated in ash receptacles that have to be specially constructed for the purpose, and which for that reason are unsuitable for adaptation to the instrumentcowl or panel of all makes of automobiles because of the variations in limitaitons in locating the receptacle on the cowl or panel due to the positions thereon of the instruments, clock, glove compartment and other appurtenances.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide an illuminating device for ash receptacles that is simple and inexpensive in construction, and which includes a bracketof pliable metal so that it can be bent into any form required to support a lamp from the firewall of an automobile and in a position such as to illuminate an ash receptacle regardless of its construction and location on the instrument panel or cowl, and only when-the receptacle is open for use, so as to render it visible at night or semi-darkness for precise location and use.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide an illuminating device which serves to light the ash receptacle when in open position in such manner that only the perimeter or outline of the receptacle becomes visible by a subdued or low light, thus enabling the automobile occupants to locate the ash receptacle immediately for use without having a light shining into their eyes to interfere with the drivers vision and render it more difiicult to see the roadway ahead. 3

I will describe only one form of illuminating device for automobile ash receptacles embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of illuminating device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the illuminating device on a reduced scale and in applied position with respect to an ash receptacle located on the cowl of an automobile, and with the receptacle in closed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is on a reduced scale a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2 showing the ash receptacle withdrawn to open position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device of my invention comprises a bracket B which is made of a single length of strap metal that is pliable so that it can readily be bent to any shape desired for a purpose to be described hereinafter. In the present instance the bracket is bent to form a lower end 15 disposed anguis in use.

is relatively long. At the upper end of the portion 16 is an upper end portion 17 disposed at an angle thereto and so that it.is

To the upper end portion 17 is mounted a combined lamp holding and reflecting member M, which comprises a lip 18 provided with a horizontal slot 19 with a bolt 20 extending through the same and the end portion 17, and having a nut 21 thereon by which the lip can be securely clamped to the end portion longitudinally in the. slot thereby aifording horizontal adjustment of the member M on the bracket B for a purpose to be described later herein. p

The member M also includes a horizontalportion 22 extending at right angles from the lip 18 which, at its other end, merges into a substantially semi-circular portion 23 the open side of which faces the lip. This por tion 23 is provided with a curved extension 23a which receives and holds a socket24 for an electric lamp 25 and in such manner that the remainder of such portion serves as a light reflector for the lamp to direct its rays in the desired direction when applied to' an' ash receptacle.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is shown one form of conventional ash receptacle applied to the cowl part 26 of an instrument panel 27. This receptacle comprises abox-like shell 28,fixed at its open end to the rear side of the cowl 26 within an opening in the latter. Slidable in the shell 28 to occupy the closed position shown in Fig. 2, or the open position shown in Fig. 4, is a rectangular shaped drawer 29 that constitutes the ash receptacle and as'usual is provided with a snuflfer cup 30.

As my illuminating device is associated with an ash receptacle of this construction, two bolts 31 are employed to secure the lower end portion 15 to the usual firewall 32 (see Fig. 2) of an automobile and at a point thereon such that the member M is positioned in advance of the forward end of the shell 28 so that the lamp 25 as held therein will have itslight rays projected by the retlector rearwardly to the top and sides of the receptacle 29. Thus when the receptacle is pulled to'open position for use as shown in Fig. 4, the light rays passing" between the shell .and receptacle, as indicated by the arrows, will cause the receptacle to be dimly illuminated in outline so that the usercan readily locate it in the darkfor accurate deposit of ashes or butts thereinto rather than to points extraneously thereof such asonto the floor of the car. Such receptacle illumination is insuflicientto interfere with the car drivers vision when driving, but yet suflicient to readily locate' the receptacle for use;

The lamp 25 is adapted to be illuminatedconcurrently with illumination of the head lights or the dash light whichever may be preferred, by connecting the lamp in circuit with either. Although this causes burning of the lamp when the receptacle is not used, it is concealed from view when the receptacle is closed, and the current consumed thereby is negligible because of the smallness thereof.

While I have shown and described the illuminating device in association with a particular form of ash receptacle located at a particular point on an instrument panel to require the bracket B having the form shown so as to locate the lamp at the forward end of the receptacle, it will be understood that since the bracket is bendable it can be caused by such bending to assume any shape required to locate the lamp to the bottom, top or either side of any receptacle regardless of its structure, depending upon at what point on the firewall the bracket is secured, the form and location of the ash receptacle intended to be illuminated, and the intervening appurpositioned vertically when the bracket.

a t, a tenances which the bracket and lamp must avoid to properly locate the lamp.

It becomes manifest therefore that my illuminating device'can be applied to any and all makes of automobiles regardless of the type and'location of the ash receptacle on the cowl'or' instrument board. 'Moreover, it i is susceptible of application to ash receptacles located in usable relation to the occupants of the rear 'seatof an automobile. All that is necessary is to so reduce'the size of it and bend the bracket to a form such as to locate the lamp-in illuminating relation to' the receptacle when in open position for use, and connect the lamp in circuit withthe headlights. a

The-adjustment of'the member M on the bracketB afforded by the bolt and slot, in turn affords adjustment of the lamp on the bracket to locate it in a precise positioninrelation to an ash receptacle for proper outline illumination thereof when withdrawn'foiuse.

--Although I have herein'shown and described only one iorm of ash receptacle illuminating device embodying my invention, it is to be' understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1.'Anilluminating device for ash receptacles as used on automobiles, including: a bracket; and a member secured to the-bracket and having a lamp-base-holding means curved around a longitudinal horizontal aicis and defining a longitudinal horizontal opening along one side thereof, a light-reflecting means integral with and comprising a longitudinal horizontal extension of said lampb ase-holding means, and light-shield means comprising a lateral horizontal extension of the bottom of said lightreflecting ,means projecting substantially beneath and beyondsaid longitudinal, horizontal opening and substantially beyond the upper portion ofthe light-reflecting means thereby substantially preventing downward radiation of light from the device; said lamp-base-holding means being cooperable to removably hold a lamp base of a lamp and effectively positioning said lamp at least partially within 'said light-reflecting means;

i 2 An illuminated ash receptacle for use on automo biles, including in combinationzan automobile ash receptacle; a;bracket;and a member secured to the bracket and having a lamp-base-holding means curved around a longitudinal horizontal axis and defining a'lon'gitudinal horizontal opening along one side/thereof, ,a light reflecting means integral with and comprising a' longitudinal horizontal extension' of said lamp-base-holding means, andilight-shieldmeans comprising a lateral horizontal extension of the bottom of said "light-reflecting means projecting substantially beneath and beyond said longitudinal horizontal opening and substantially beyond the upper portion of the light-reflecting means thereby substantially preventing downward radiation of light from the device; said lamp-base-holding means being cooperable to removably hold a lamp base of a lamp and effectively positioning said lamp at least partially within said light-reflecting meansgsaid bracket being of pliable metal cooperable to be bent to position said member horizontally adjacent to said ash receptacle and reflecting light horizontally through saidlongitudinal horizontal opening, aslirnit ed by said light-shieldmeans'thereunder, toward said ash receptacle and rendering said ash receptacle visible at night when said ash receptacle is in open position for use.

3. An illuminated ash receptacle for use on automobiles including in combination: an automobile ash receptacl'e; a"larnp having a lamp baseja bracket; and a member's'ecn'red to the bracket and'having aresilient lamp-base-holdin'g means curved around a longitudinal horizontal "axis to encompass more than 180 degrees of curvature and defining a longitudinal: horizontal opening along one side thereof, a light-reflecting means integral with and comprising a longitudial h orizontal'extension of said lamp-base-holding means, and light-shield means comprising a lateral horizontal extension of the bottom of said light-refie cting'means projecting substantially beneath and beyond said'longitudinal horizontalopening and substantially beyond the upper portion of the lightreflecting means thereby substantially preventing downward radiation of light from the device; said lamp-base holding means removably resiliently holding said lamp base of 'said lamp and positioningsaid lamp at least partially withinsaid light-reflecting means; said member beingipositioned laterally horizontally adjacent to said ash receptacle and reflecting light laterally horizontally through said longitudinal hori'zontalopening, as limited by, said light-shield'rneans thereunder, toward said ash receptacle and rendering said a'sh receptacle visible at night When-said ash receptacle is in open position for use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS k core ,.1 Mar. 12, 19.18 

